No ground worries for Eustace
The nine-year-old was just touched off in third place behind Macs Joy 12 months ago and is building towards his bid for a hat-trick of victories in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
“He should run well there, mind you they raced at Leopardstown on Sunday and the ground was bottomless,” said the trainer.
“It won’t improve much in a couple of weeks, it will be pretty deep.
“Last year it was heavy as well and he just got beat a short head and a head in it.”
Hughes believes the Champion Hurdle will be just as difficult to win once more despite the absence through injury of last year’s runner-up Harchibald.
“The competition in the Champion Hurdle will be similar to last year,” he went on.
“Brave Inca is a very good horse and it will be tough enough competition.”
Hardy Eustace is a best-priced 4-1 to emulate Istabraq in 2000 and win the Champion Hurdle for the third year running.
The gelding made a successful reappearance since his second Champion Hurdle win when beating Native Upmanship over two and a half miles at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.
“He came out of his last race very well,” Hughes added.
Gallant 12-year-old The French Furze is also on target to take his chance in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle.
The Jim Ennis-owned frontrunner defied his age to win a valuable event at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, beating the highly-rated Mighty Man, and trainer Nicky Richards said it was no surprise to him.
“Nothing surprises me with that horse because he is a very game and consistent sort. I suppose one or two of the jockeys let him slip away and they couldn’t get back at him,” he said.
“He ran a fantastic race at Cheltenham but then he’s run some fantastic races all his life, so nothing he does surprises me anymore.
“At the moment the plan is the AIG Champion Hurdle as the race is starting to thin out slightly.”
Meanwhile, Dessie Hughes will have Paul Carberry back on board Central House in the Grade Two Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
Carberry has been out of action since injuring his neck in a fall at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Central House was an unlucky loser of the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase over the Festive period when jockey Roger Loughran mistook the winning post and the horse eventually finished third.
With Loughran currently serving a suspension for that error, Carberry is free to renew his association with Central House after the partnership won three times last season.
“It’ll be good to have Paul,” said Hughes. “He knows him, he’s ridden him before.
“Roger got on particularly well with him. It’s a pity he got those few days. Fourteen race days in Ireland drags on a bit. We only race two or three days a week in Ireland so if you get 14 you’re out for four or five weeks.”
He reports Central House to be in fine form ahead of his retrieval mission.
“I’m very happy with him. He looks to be a better horse this year,” he added. “He’s got stronger and is standing up to his racing. He looks very well.
“He doesn’t mind the heavy ground and I think he acts quite well on good ground as well.”
Having twice finished ahead of dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Moscow Flyer this season, Central House is, according to Hughes, a worthy contender for the two-mile title at Cheltenham in March.
“I think he’s entitled to take his chance after Cork and Navan and especially Leopardstown the last day,” he said.
“At the moment he’s possibly the best of the Irish two milers on his last three runs so he really has to travel.”
Central House is generally available at 10-1 for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
Meanwhile, Watson Lake’s return to action has been put on ice for two weeks due to a bruised foot.
The eight-year-old was due to return at Fairyhouse on Sunday but was not among the entries for his intended engagement in the Normans Grove Chase.
On the sidelines since being cast in his box after winning at Naas in November, he is now set to make his comeback in the Byrne Group Plc Tied Cottage Chase over two miles at Punchestown on February 5.
“He’s got a bruised hind foot. He was due to work yesterday morning but we found he was lame,” said trainer Noel Meade.
“It’s not serious and it shouldn’t hold him up for too long.
“He’ll now go to Punchestown for the Tied Cottage race in a couple of weeks.”
Watson Lake is generally available at 10-1 for the Champion Chase.
